[02/20/14 - 02:58 PM]Nat Geo WILD and SeaWorld Present a One-Hour Special on the Bold Journey to Build Florida's Very Own Penguin Paradise"Building Penguin Paradise" premieres Sunday, March 2 at 10:00/9:00c on the cable channel.

[via press release from Nat Geo WILD]

SNOW AND ICE GOT YOU DOWN?
FOR THESE PENGUINS, IT'S PARADISE

Nat Geo WILD and SeaWorld Present a One-Hour Special on the Bold Journey to Build Florida's Very Own Penguin Paradise

(Washington D.C. - Feb. 20, 2014) Forty-five-foot-high icebergs, temperatures below freezing and hundreds of penguins ... doesn't sound like sunny Florida, right? Think again. SeaWorld Orlando is making the impossible happen with its biggest project since opening 40 years ago - it is building a penguin paradise. And Nat Geo WILD is tagging along to see exactly how the journey to give more than 200 penguins their very own Antarctic heaven will unfold in Building Penguin Paradise, premiering Sunday, March 2, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD. (For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/NGC_PR.)

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin(TM) recently opened at SeaWorld Orlando, and Nat Geo WILD was given special access to capture the 18-month ambitious project to construct the most elaborate penguin attraction in the world. We watch front row as every detail of the exhibit is perfectly designed so these fun-loving penguins can enjoy a safe adjustment into their new home. With unbelievable behind-the-scenes footage, Building Penguin Paradise will uncover the marvelous feats of SeaWorld's largest-ever realm, which includes a family adventure ride and culinary and retail shops. The reveal of this extravagant 6,125-square-foot Antarctic home in Florida can't come any sooner for these patient penguins who are just ready to chill out.

We'll follow the astonishing achievements of engineering necessary to accomplish such an elaborate project including carving picture-perfect ice formations in the sizzling Florida heat and installing a viewing window the weight of a school bus. Incredible footage of the penguins taken in their natural habitat will showcase each of the four species' special qualities: the Gentoos' ability to swim five times faster than an Olympic swimmer, the silly Adelies' belly-sledding technique, the Rockhoppers' hopping and climbing prowess and the Kings' majestic flirting moves. There is never a dull moment with these little guys.

Building Penguin Paradise is produced by Arrow Media for Nat Geo WILD. For Arrow Media, executive producers are Tom Brisley and Nick Metcalfe. For Nat Geo WILD, executive producer is Janet Han Vissering, and executive vice president and general manager is Geoff Daniels.

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About Nat Geo WILD

For more than 30 years, National Geographic has been the leader in wildlife programming. The networks Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo WILD HD, launched in 2010, offer intimate encounters with nature's ferocious fighters and gentle creatures of land, sea and air that draw upon the cutting-edge work of the many explorers, filmmakers and scientists of the National Geographic Society. Part of the National Geographic Channels US, based in Washington, D.C., the networks are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. In 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) debuted, and 10 years later, Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with Nat Geo WILD currently available in 56 million U.S. homes. Globally, Nat Geo WILD is available in more than 100 million homes in 90 countries and 28 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.

About SeaWorld

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment inspires millions, through the power of entertainment, to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world. The Company has been creating innovative entertainment experiences that blend imagination with nature for more than 50 years and is best known for its 11 U.S. theme parks, attractions that hosted more than 24 million guests in 2012 and include the beloved SeaWorld(R), Busch Gardens(R) and Sesame Place(R) brands. The parks offer guests a variety of up-close experiences, from animal encounters that invite exploration and appreciation of the natural world, to thrilling rides and spectacular shows. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The Company maintains one of the largest animal collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of species in zoological facilities and in the conservation of wild populations. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment also operates one of the world's most respected programs to rescue and rehabilitate ocean marine animals that are ill, injured and orphaned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld(R) rescue team has helped more than 23,000 animals in need over the past four decades.

About Arrow Media

Arrow Media is one of the UK's most ambitious creative forces. Established in 2011 and now one of the UK's leading independent production companies, Arrow Media specialises in creating high quality and innovative content across TV, film and digital media from long-running series to big ambitious projects such as Live from Space, Ultimate Airport Dubai and World's Busiest... The company was founded by Tom Brisley, John Smithson, and Iain Pelling and operates in the UK, US and other key international territories, where all three partners have extensive experience.